Sonora governor: Desalination will have to be part of state water supply

With at least a dozen neighborhoods in Hermosillo already experiencing water shortages this summer, the state is confronting a future without enough water for residents, much less water-intensive agriculture and industry.

"Obviously desalination will be an obligatory resource for Hermosillo, because the water crisis is already reaching all of us," Gov. Alfonso Durazo said. "Not withstanding the important reservoirs in the southern part of the state, we are more and more limited in carrying out normal activities in this region."

The state has already been cloud seeding, in hopes of drawing more rain during the monsoons to keep the state’s reservoirs functioning. Now, leaders are also looking to the sea.

Climate change and drought are partially to blame for the lack of water. However, experts also say poor management and a failure to reduce demand are also major factors in the current crisis.

Fronteras Desk is a KJZZ project covering important stories in an expanse stretching from Northern Arizona deep into northwestern Mexico.